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Previous: The Days of Kruk-Ma-Kali Part 11

Kruk-Ma-Kali’s assassination and his “last will and testament” led to immediate infighting amongst his generals. They were unified by Kruk-Ma-Kali’s hidden telepathic influence. As that power disappeared, those who used to be friends became bitter enemies. The generals occupying Bradel Fields and Jipangu decamped the cities to make a play for the imperial throne. A series of civil wars engulfed the Hobgoblin Lands for several decades.

Although dead, Kruk-Ma-Kali’s psionic soul endured. As he died he transferred his ethereal consciousness into Kharad-khor. The black sword was taken by Kruk-Ma-Kali’s loyal generals, Khuz-kukk-ghor and Vokh-jrozzhul, to his birthplace within the Great Valley of Shacklack Desert. The two generals oversaw the construction of a great trap-filled tomb and many false tombs in honor of Kruk-Ma-Kali’s final words. His true heir would inherit his sword, his treasure, and his consciousness, but only if they conquered the trials of the tombs.

One of the elven mages that Kruk-Ma-Kali captured in Valor Forest assisted with the construction of the tombs. This elf, Sahamathrian, had helped Kruk-Ma-Kali at Nomingburg with the teleportation wormhole ritual. Now, under the influence of the diabolic goblins his magical interests had drifted towards necromancy. Sahamathrian created hundreds of undead creatures to help defend the tomb of Kruk-Ma-Kali. After two decades of building, his final act was to kill the two generals, Khuz-kukk-ghor and Vokh-jrozzhul. Their devotion to Kruk-Ma-Kali extended into the afterlife. Sahamathrian raised them into willing undead warriors, eternal servants of Kruk-Ma-Kali’s will.

After completing the tomb, Sahamathrian killed all those who had worked on it or knew of its location. Without a master, the elf was finally free. He researched a method of turning his own body into an immortal undead creature. He found the answer in the ritual of the lich at Crux. After his transformation he returned to the Shacklack Desert as the Bane of the Lich Shade.

Next: The Days of Kruk-Ma-Kali Part 13